Rolex Date Oyster Perpetual Paved 1601 with Grey Dial

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Rolex Date Oyster Perpetual Paved 1601 with Grey Dial

About the Item

One gent's stainless steel Rolex Date Oyster Perpetual wristwatch. With a gray dial and date. It has been modified with round brilliant cut diamonds set throughout the bezel, lugs, sides and jubilee band measuring (approx. by gauge) 1.00mm-3.00mm, and weighting (approx) 18.50cts in total. Clarity: VS2-SI2 Colour: H-J Cut: Medium/Good With a hidden clasp and numbered #72200 I don’t live the kind of lifestyle that would be kind to a fully iced out watch. I have an unfortunate habit of forgetting that I am wearing a valuable watch and merrily run off to feed the horses, clean up manure or do farm type maintenance or open the hood of a vintage car or aircraft and dive in. None of these things are conducive to keeping a timepiece in its best possible condition. One would have to think that triply true of a watch coated in expensive diamonds. It doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a well done fully iced watch however I know that you either hate or love these watches. To be quite honest, two years ago I was in the hate category. I changed sides when I saw in person how strikingly beautiful a paved watch can be. The first one I purchased was an attractive Cartier Santos Galbee XL and this Rolex is the second. The Cartier is striking, this Rolex s a quantum leap above that. The diamonds are all of very good quality and the row around the bezel are quite large. All in all this watch has in excess of 18k of diamonds set on the watchcase, bezel and band. It absolutely glows and sparkles with a rainbow of light reflections. While I have been a character on television for a few years, I don’t attend award ceremonies, red carpet affairs or all night soirees so my usage of a watch like this would be restricted to the occasional drive to Dairy Queen to get a soft cone. Others perhaps have lifestyles more in keeping with a magnificent artifact like this so have at it. It had a full appraisal by a fully certified and well-respected appraiser, which values it at 45 thousand dollars. In the appraisal, he made note that it was missing four diamonds so as soon as I picked it up I delivered it to my gold smith and had four missing diamonds replaced. It is now back up to a full complement and currently available for purchase. Cheers David C. Grainger

Creator:
Rolex
Case Material:
Stainless Steel
Stone:
Diamond
Stone Cut:
Brilliant Cut
Case Shape:
Round
Lab Report Available:
M & F Gems 18729
Place of Origin:
Switzerland
Period:
21st Century
Date of Manufacture:
2005
Condition:
Replacements made: Four missing diamonds were replaced.
Seller Location:
Bradford, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: 001561stDibs: LU1991212690032

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Rolex

While the rise in popularity of vintage Rolex watches is of no surprise to aficionados, collectors and industry experts, when it comes to contemporary luxury wristwatches, Rolex is also often the first brand that springs to mind. Not only is the company revered for its precision timekeeping and impeccable craftsmanship, but its name was designed to be memorable.

Rolex's enviable worldwide recognition can be credited in part to the genius of company founder Hans Wilsdorf. When the German-born watch dealer and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, set up their London enterprise, in 1905, they called it Wilsdorf & Davis, according to the traditional formula.

But Wilsdorf was determined to come up with another name that was short, would look good on a watch dial and was easy to say and remember in several languages. In 1908, he trademarked the name Rolex, and by 1920, he had moved the company to Geneva and redubbed it as Montres Rolex S.A.

But the main reasons for the brand’s success are its aforementioned commitment to precision and unflagging pursuit of innovation. In 1926, the company introduced the aptly named Oyster model. With a screw-down crown and case back, both fitted with rubber gaskets, this was the first truly waterproof watch.

Five years later, Rolex upped the ante with the Oyster Perpetual. That model’s patented Perpetual movement contained a rotor mechanism enabling it to self-wind. In another trendsetting move, in 1945, the brand debuted the Datejust, with a date window prominently displayed on the dial.

The company’s two most iconic models are sports watches. Although the Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was developed as a dive watch, its waterproof case, solid construction and good looks made it a favorite of adventurers and urbanites alike, including James Bond, who wore it in classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger. The Daytona, the racing chronograph made famous by Paul Newman, is especially sought after by collectors. Newman’s personal Daytona, which hit the auction block in 2017, sold for $17.8 million.

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